Jokowi opens Sail Karimata Strait 2016 in West Kalimantan

BINTANGNEWS.com
– President
Joko "Jokowi" Widodo opened the peak event of Sail Karimata Strait
2016 on a Datuk Island beach in North Kayong regency, West Kalimantan, on
Saturday.

Jokowi also welcomed
foreign countries participating in the annual international maritime event.

"This event only
ends at the ceremonial level. After it finishes, I don’t want it to be quiet.
The event can help preserve our national resources and bring back our maritime
culture," he said in his speech as reported by Antara news agency.

In his speech, the
president also reminded the audience that Indonesia's area was 71 percent
comprised of sea that united all its 17,000 islands into the unitary state of
Indonesia. The sea was also one of Indonesia's economic drivers that must be
secured, he added.

"We are also
pushing for maritime tourism development. We have Bunaken, Tomini Bay, Karimata
Strait, Raja Ampat and many other [places of tourism attraction]. We will build
the infrastructure and facilities, as well as push promotion so that our beautiful
places can be introduced domestically and internationally," Jokowi said
before sounding the sirene to mark the official opening of the event.